Teen Challenge Kazakhstan (TCK)
Everything you have seen here has been built by God. When Jesus went to Jerusalem the crowd shouted Hosanna and the donkey thought ‘they really love me here’. I now realise ' I'm the donkey'.
Doug, TCK Director
In my office, I have many invitations from students. It is exciting to see invitations sent by students for marriage. What is success percentage? It doesn’t matter! If just 1% success it is enough. Human life has no price. This is not just our work, but it is for the whole of Kazakhstan. Go to real lives and make leaders good quality. People who did not desire to go to school; they will go to university and get good profession. Our children will continue this work. When I think like this I cannot sleep'
Chanzi, Treasurer
TCK is first and foremost a spiritual work. It has grown out of the Teen Challenge movement started by David Wilkinson and developed internationally. TCK is an independent organisation, registered as a Humanitarian Fund in Kazakhstan
Doug described the general philosophy in terms of humility, obedience (respect) and Holiness. James 1:21 ‘in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your soul’. Like many other Christian Drug programmes, TCK is founded on the Jesus’ Nazareth Manifesto (Luke 4:18-20). Setting the oppressed and captives free (Is 61:1) who are called: ‘Oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord (61: 3). But unlike many other rehabs TCK goes on to do the rest - ‘rebuild ancient ruins…. raise up former devastation… repair ruined cities’ (61:4) and ‘strangers will pastor …. and foreigners will be farmers’ (61:5); they will be ‘called priest of the Lord, Ministers of our God’ (61: 6) It is all there in TCK: Detox & Rehabilitation, counselling and discipleship, building and renovation work, foreign leadership, and church mission and ministry.
Doug shared a dream of steering a big ship. He had tried to avoid rocks and beached the ship. Later whilst driving the interpretation hit him - a revelation from God. ‘I have given you a ministry; your job is to steer it. You can’t control its size; you can’t avoid problems, just keep on course. The ship can go over rocks, so don’t avoid them.’ He added that on the beach when he looked up ‘it was a huge container ship some 9 stories high’
TCK has seen remarkable growth! It has grown exponentially over the past few years, so that now there are 9 different programmes serving some 200 recovering addicts. Men, Women and Children, Detox, Rehab and Vocational training, prison ministry, awareness a sports club and other prevention activities And even a School. In all there appear to be roughly 2000 direct beneficiaries and 150 staff. This growth is due to the political and economic environment in Kazakhstan, as well as the vision and drive of Doug and staff. And of course the ‘hand of God’.
It is well respected as the oldest Therapeutic Community (TC) in Kazakhstan. It is therefore positioned to exert great influence. Baroness Cox’s arrival was a great political coup d’etat in that it increased credibility, and demonstrated some political muscle. This appears to have had positive results so far.
I realized, through visiting, that TCK is not a subsidiary of TC-USA International, the MacDonalds of the Drug Rehab world. But TCK is much more autonomous. Although it does use the TC International materials, it is not dependent on the mother organisation. In fact is operating fairly independently. Not so much the MacDonald of the drug rehab world, more a Central Asian ‘Shashlik’
I was able to attend the Graduation at the end of my visit - a moving affair, opened by children of New Beginnings School singing the National anthem. Kazak and Kyrgyz dancers also preceded the presentations of graduation certificates to various groups. The women’s rehab, refuge and workers. Boy’s and Men’s rehab and workers. TEFL teachers. And more Kazak songs - around 90 people receiving certificates Presided over by Doug with Baroness Cox as the chief guest, brought by Sam, an Iranian from Surrey. She was in Kazakhstan to make representation on behalf of Teen challenge to the President wife and the Mayor of Almaty concerning 3 buildings. Teen Challenge was fighting a court case over the 3 buildings.
Addicts, street-kids and battered women in Almaty now consider her such a voice, their very own Baroness. They also have a couple on the ground in Doug & Anna.
From your own correspondent
Amati Sept 2002
It is well respected as the oldest Therapeutic Community (TC) in Kazakhstan. It is therefore positioned to exert great influence. Baroness Cox’s arrival was a great political coup d’etat in that it increased credibility, and demonstrated some political muscle. This appears to have had positive results so far.
I joined the programme in 1996 a drug addict for 15 years, thinking ‘what for am I living?’ One day, sister introduced me to programme. I felt so empty. I was told that in 1½ months, I would be free from drug addiction. I met others who said ‘we are free’. Trust God, trust us, you will change! God came into my heart. My life was empty and hopeless – useless, no joy. I felt I could never change, but now I am happy and have hope I have everything. I have found life and can see a future and have hope. I am so grateful to the programme, to these men.
Yerbo, Farm Manager
I realized, through visiting, that TCK is not a subsidiary of TC-USA International, the MacDonalds of the Drug Rehab world. But TCK is much more autonomous. Although it does use the TC International materials, it is not dependent on the mother organisation. In fact is operating fairly independently. Not so much the MacDonald of the drug rehab world, more a Central Asian ‘Shashlik’
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I was able to attend the Graduation at the end of my visit - a moving affair, opened by children of New Beginnings School singing the National anthem. Kazak and Kyrgyz dancers also preceded the presentations of graduation certificates to various groups. The women’s rehab, refuge and workers. Boy’s and Men’s rehab and workers. TEFL teachers. And more Kazak songs - around 90 people receiving certificates Presided over by Doug with Baroness Cox as the chief guest, brought by Sam, an Iranian from Surrey. She was in Kazakhstan to make representation on behalf of Teen challenge to the President wife and the Mayor of Almaty concerning 3 buildings. Teen Challenge was fighting a court case over the 3 buildings.Besides a Baroness, they were presented by a local councillor who has supported the programme, a member of the Drug Committee, The Assistant British Ambassador, a representative from British Council (for the TEFL). And I was representing CMS, Tearfund and ISSAC! Certificates were presented to all who were 2 years drug free and also staff who had been through an 18 months training course. It was the ‘piece de resistance’ and the support offered by Baroness Cox was very tangible and timely. Expressions of support have been made by the Kazakh government, for example for the orphans in the Beginnings School. The event was carefully orchestrated - but not ‘over the top’.
It was very helpful for me to get a fuller grasp of the extent of their programme and the high regard with which it is held. Local government was well represented by a man who genuinely supported and appreciated the work. (I spoke to him afterwards). 9 projects were presented - 9 parts of the overall programme in all I wondered if the 9 programmes corresponded to the ship ‘9 stories high’ in Doug’s vision.
It was very helpful for me to get a fuller grasp of the extent of their programme and the high regard with which it is held. Local government was well represented by a man who genuinely supported and appreciated the work. (I spoke to him afterwards). 9 projects were presented - 9 parts of the overall programme in all I wondered if the 9 programmes corresponded to the ship ‘9 stories high’ in Doug’s vision.
I travelled back on KLM with Baroness Cox and Sam, not VIP, or business class, I was pleased to see, but economy class, full of normal, crowded humanity. Lord Longford called her a ‘Christian champion’. Andrew Boyd, in his biography, highlights
‘her concern for the oppressed, the repressed and the vulnerable – those least able to articulate their needs and their rights. Caroline Cox strives with a passion to be a voice for the voiceless, whether on the home front in the United Kingdom or abroad, speaking for the forgotten peoples in forgotten lands’.
Andrew Boyd ‘Baroness Cox: a Voice for the Voiceless’
Lion 1998 Pg 435
Addicts, street-kids and battered women in Almaty now consider her such a voice, their very own Baroness. They also have a couple on the ground in Doug & Anna.
From your own correspondent
Amati Sept 2002
